Press Release

PURPLE KNIGHTS END SKID, SHOCK NO. 19 SAINT ROSE Graves helps SMC hand Golden Knights first loss FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION December 13, 2003                                                                    Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Sophomore Chase Graves (West Chester, Pa./Storm King) tallied 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and senior Ben Smith (Southport Island, Maine/Boothbay Region) picked up a key charging foul in the final seconds to lead Saint Michael’s College to a 92-86 upset victory versus the College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Conference men’s basketball action on Saturday at the Ross Sports Center. The win snapped the Purple Knights’ five-game losing skid, improving their record to 3-5 overall and 1-5 in NE-10 play. The loss was the first of the season for the 19th-ranked Golden Knights, who fall to 7-1, 4-1 in league action. After trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, Saint Michael’s went on a 26-7 run to open up an 82-73 lead with 2:45 remaining. Sparked by the shooting of senior David Martin (Hudson Falls, N.Y.), Saint Rose pulled within 88-86 and held possession of the ball with 14 seconds left in regulation. On the ensuing possession, junior Terry George’s (Buffalo, N.Y.) driving lay-up was waved off as Smith slid in front of George to earn the charging foul, and four free throws in the final three seconds sealed the victory. Neither team could dictate the tempo in a first half that featured three ties and 13 lead changes. Fittingly, the score was tied at 42-all after one period, as freshman Brendan Mullins (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) and sophomore Brad Shove (Pittsfield, Mass.) led the Purple Knights and Golden Knights, respectively, with 10 points apiece. Saint Michael’s opened up a 51-48 lead three minutes into the second period, courtesy of five points from junior Eric Swiezynski (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington). Saint Rose, however, embarked on an 18-5 run, fueled by eight points from Martin, to take their biggest lead at 66-56. The Purple Knights refused to go away, and took the lead for good, 72-71, on a jumper by sophomore BJ Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) with 7:08 remaining. Twelve free throws in the final 2:45 helped Saint Michael’s hold off the fast-charging Golden Knights. Smith added 18 points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Purple Knights, who placed six players in double figures. Robertson and Swiezynski added 15 points each, while Mullins and senior Delbert Randall (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) chipped in 12. Saint Michael’s shot 59 percent from the field in the second half, while connecting on 16-of-21 from the charity stripe. Martin led all players with 26 points, hitting for five 3-pointers. Senior Jesse Cort (Red Hook, N.Y.) tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds in the losing effort, while Shove and George added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Saint Michael’s returns to action on Monday, Dec. 29, as the Purple Knights head to Florida to face Mansfield (Pa.) University in the Winter Park Rotary Tangerine Tournament, hosted by Rollins College.  ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002